The D.C. Attorney General’s office has received a sharp reprimand for its mismanagement of city records in the lawsuit stemming from the Pershing Park protests in 2002 (background from the Washington City Paper). The case, in which the District is defending itself against claims that it violated protestors’ constitutional rights, is overseen by U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan, who delivered highly critical remarks castigating the city for its mishandling of evidence. The AG’s office has had trouble locating numerous responsive city records and delivered many years too late, while other records may have been destroyed.

 

Judge Sullivan has requested that the Council investigate the matter and warned the city of sanctions for its handling of the case. Councilmembers Mary Cheh and Phil Mendelson have called for Attorney General Peter Nickles to step down.  Judge Sullivan suspected a “systematic problem” led to the mishandling of the records, and observed that such a failure “raises serious questions about when, if ever, can anyone ever trust their government.”

The D.C. Attorney General’s office has received a sharp reprimand for its mismanagement of city records in the lawsuit stemming from the Pershing Park protests in 2002 (background from the Washington City Paper). The case, in which the District is defending itself against claims that it violated protestors’ constitutional rights, is overseen by U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan, who delivered highly critical remarks castigating the city for its mishandling of evidence. The AG’s office has had trouble locating numerous responsive city records and delivered many years too late, while other records may have been destroyed.

 

Judge Sullivan has requested that the Council investigate the matter and warned the city of sanctions for its handling of the case. Councilmembers Mary Cheh and Phil Mendelson have called for Attorney General Peter Nickles to step down.  Judge Sullivan suspected a “systematic problem” led to the mishandling of the records, and observed that such a failure “raises serious questions about when, if ever, can anyone ever trust their government.”